Automatic portal for an instant messaging system

Abstract

An instant messaging (IM) system for providing automatic IM services includes a server, at least one client connected to the server, an automatic portal unit connected to the server, and at least one automatic service unit connected to the server. If the automatic portal unit receives a service-activation input from a first client, the automatic portal unit configures a first automatic service unit to provide services to selected clients based on the service-activation input. If the first automatic service unit is configured to provide services to the selected clients, the first automatic service unit provides service responses when receiving communications from the selected clients.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of Invention[0002] The present invention relates to communication systems generally and more particularly to instant messaging systems.[0003] 2. Description of Related Art[0004] With the globalization of the economy, it has become increasingly important to have new ways for people to communicate together, both quickly and easily. Instant messaging (IM) services and chat room services have become increasingly popular for real-time communication, both for general conversation and for more specialized dialogs. In general, instant messaging is a method that enables communication on a one-to-one basis or in groups using standard IP (Internet Protocol). For example, on-line areas known as "chat rooms" enable interactive communication (i.e., "chat") within a group of users often on specialized topics. In this context, "chat" (or other instant messaging) refers to messages that are typically typed using a keyboard and transmitted over a network in a real-time setting. (e.g.,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] The present invention enables automatic knowledge-based services including language translation services in a flexible way that is easy to use in a real-time chat room environment. In one operational setting for example, a chat room user invites a portal unit into the chat room to provide automatic language translation services. The portal unit then automatically joins the chat room and appears like another chat room user to the server that maintains the chat room. The portal unit then queries each chat room user for his or her language preference. Then the portal unit consolidates the responses and determines which service units will be needed (e.g., language-pair translators such as a French-to-English translator). The portal unit then invites the service units into the chat room. These service unit automatically joint the chat room and appear like additional chat room users to the server that maintains the chat room. The portal unit automatically links these service units to specific users (e.g., as "buddies") so that for example a French-speaking user is linked to a French-to-English translator for communicating with an English-speaking user in the chat room. As users enter and leave the chat room, the portal unit automatically updates the service configuration as in, for example, dismissing a French-to-English translator when no French-speaking users are left in the chat room. In this way service units can be managed automatically by the portal unit so that they participate in the chat room analogously to the behavior of the actual chat room users while providing services that are tailored to the specific needs of the users.

Problems solved by technology

The response is generally perceived by the users as a real time experience although there may be delays in some operational settings.

Chat room infrastructure for providing language-translation support is typically very limited.

This approach may be particularly cumbersome when the relevant languages are not known in advance or when the mix of languages changes quickly as chat room users come and go.

In a similar way, chat room infrastructure typically does not provide adequate support for other knowledge-based services (e.g., news, sports, technical data).

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